For example I build this "taxi" to take my little one to daycare/library etc where I don't have the luxury of inside parking, yes I build her with unattractive components (as much as possible) but still a pretty nice safe bike, and YES I have a biga^^ lock for it too. (as you can see on the handlebars)

Torx are good to stop the quick grab artist. Someone staking out an area and who want your bits, will just buy the tools. I remember seeing QR seat and axle items with unique (triangular?) drives someplace. Velo-Orange? PeterWhite? Performance? Not sure. Anyplace that the bike is found predictably is a place where it can get singled out. Paint it to look rusty, and paint the drive train to look filthy can help, but the more educated thief will see through that. Baby seats and anything that make the bike look heavy and uncool should help. Meth heads aren't the brightest, though.

Torx are good to stop the quick grab artist. Someone staking out an area and who want your bits, will just buy the tools. I remember seeing QR seat and axle items with unique (triangular?) drives someplace. Velo-Orange? PeterWhite? Performance? Not sure.

I used to have "gonzo mudslingers" with a octagonal pattern and a special ratchet, now I feel really bad that I sold them

Anyplace that the bike is found predictably is a place where it can get singled out. Paint it to look rusty, and paint the drive train to look filthy can help, but the more educated thief will see through that. Baby seats and anything that make the bike look heavy and uncool should help. Meth heads aren't the brightest, though.

BrianMc

Salt Lake city where we live now is pretty safe (compare to San Francisco where we used to live) but I still want to protect the bike as much as possible, more than anything for peace of mind, just in case some dummy is hungry for bike stuff..

Just a quick comment. Are you aware that the tamper-resistant torx are available through retailers like McMaster-Carr? These are torx screws with the little nub in the center of the recess. The same retailers also sell the tools to remove the tamper-resistant screws. One more hurdle for the morally-challenged thief of opportunity.

^ Yeah, considering that 99% of multi-tools have a torx driver, I really don't see them being any more of a deterrent than hex bolts. Pinned, tamper-resistant heads would be the way to go, including VO Anti-theft Skewers

Is grip theft actually a thing? I know that someone from my building had her left grip stolen, and rode for months with just the bare bar. But she was a bit of a weirdo, and I always wondered if someone did it just to annoy her. But still, removing a non-locking grip takes a fair bit of effort.

Just a quick comment. Are you aware that the tamper-resistant torx are available through retailers like McMaster-Carr? These are torx screws with the little nub in the center of the recess. The same retailers also sell the tools to remove the tamper-resistant screws. One more hurdle for the morally-challenged thief of opportunity.

Yes I'm well aware of the existence of the fasteners (the volume require is just to high for my small needs) and also that the tools can be purchase almost anywhere like harbor freight, to me is just a deterrent so they go and pick on another bike or at least this one does not get kannibalize when we are at the movie theater or somewhere fun..

^ Yeah, considering that 99% of multi-tools have a torx driver, I really don't see them being any more of a deterrent than hex bolts. Pinned, tamper-resistant heads would be the way to go, including VO Anti-theft Skewers

Is grip theft actually a thing? I know that someone from my building had her left grip stolen, and rode for months with just the bare bar. But she was a bit of a weirdo, and I always wondered if someone did it just to annoy her. But still, removing a non-locking grip takes a fair bit of effort.

I'm still looking for an affordable multi-tool that has a T25 bit. The ones that have it are usually $25+

I like to jump to conclusions, oversimplify, gossip, and participate in popularity polls.

Do you use rubbing alcohol to remove and install them? it makes it easy- just dip a Q-tip in the alcohol, push or peel the grip back as far as you can (even if that`s just a little bit), dribble some alcohol in there, and start working the grip around, then dribble a few more drops when you get a nice start. It dries up completely and doesn`t damage anything.

^ taking a grip off in a shop or at home is easy enough. I was just surprised that this person actually had 1 grip stolen while her bike was parked at work or the grocery store or something. It's just seems like such a weird thing to do and an awful lot of effort - if you've got a multitool it'd quicker to just steal the entire handlebar.

^ taking a grip off in a shop or at home is easy enough. I was just surprised that this person actually had 1 grip stolen while her bike was parked at work or the grocery store or something. It's just seems like such a weird thing to do and an awful lot of effort -

I wire the grips to make the task of taking the levers a little more difficult, every second count...

if you've got a multitool it'd quicker to just steal the entire handlebar.

That is my main problem specially since I have a quill stem and I have no idea where to find a really long 8mm Torx bolts and welding/fabricating one together is a little to scary for my taste..

I'm sure this kind of thing can happen, but where do you live that you have to go to such extremes? Its actually kind of sad you have to go to such lengths.

I live in Omaha, Ne, and have never had to worry about this type of thing. Heck we have had large group rides with over 50 riders where most do not lock their bikes while out front of a bar. Given that, I always lock my bike while its unattended in a public place. I would be shocked if someone took the time to strip my bike of its components. I hope I'm never shocked this way.